Peter Molyneux picks his 5 favorite innovators
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Oct 23rd 2009 at 12:02PM }
Molyneux praised Tomb Raider for subverting gaming's tough-guy protagonist and named Mario 64 as the genuine precursor to 3D titles like Grand Theft Auto 3. Dune 2 got a nod for its encouragement of more thoughtful tactics, while Bungie's first Halo earned mention for halfway introducing the now-ubiquitous regenerative health system and curtailed weapon swapping.
And the fifth title? World of Warcraft, which managed to lure Molyneux to level 40 with promise of a steed. You see? He's human, just like the rest of us.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:07PM
I'm surprised he didn't put himself on that list.
YOU...
*grabs paper bag*
I promised myself I wouldn't do this.
carlrac @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:08PM
Lara Croft? Try Samus Arran...
Also, surely Goldeneye was more innovative than Halo?
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:11PM
Goldeneye was great, but Halo pretty much changed the way people look at FPS games on consoles. Even developers.
I'm not even a fan of the series and I can admit that. Bungie did us some good.
CtrlBurn @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:34PM
What did it change? I haven't played it much, but from what I remember, it was pretty much like any other FPS.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:39PM
What did it change? Just about EVERYTHING.
Shadowbender (Nelson Is Behind You) @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:40PM
"You see? He's human, just like the rest of us."
I beg to differ. After this transaction fiasco with Fable 3, I have come to the belief that he is the devil.
Shadowbender (Nelson Is Behind You) @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:42PM
Sorry that was meant as a seperate comment. Reply fail on my part.
atrimus @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:49PM
@CtrlBurn
well, before Halo most console fps' were of a more restricted, corridor type fashion...even GoldenEye suffered a bit from this. also, regenerative health, mapping certain secondary commands (like grenades) to to a specific button, and reducing how many weapons your character can carry to two were all things Halo brought to the console, which, imo, made the genre on consoles better.
on the whole i think the series is a bit overrated (the story's typical, i hate the 50 yard leaps, and the feel of control movement is rather generic, something a lot of fps suffer from), but yeah, it did innovate in areas.
Dr. Bradwart @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:59PM
How many people still think Samus is a guy? And how many think Lara Croft is a guy?
I rest my case.
Saad @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:17PM
He never said that those "were" the top five innovators in video gaming, but rather he said that those were his "favorite" top five innovators. Thus you're argument of Goldeneye being more innovative is invalid to the article since its just stating "his" opinion, no facts.
Maxx the Slash @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:28PM
Sorry in advance for my "tl;dr-worthy" comment.
GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64 is great, but even then it looked ugly as sin (check those disgusting faces with dopey expressions used on generic soldier NPC's based on then-Rareware employees).
After playing FPS games these days, try going back to GoldenEye and play the game, if you can. Personally, I can't control the damn game anymore (too much Halo and Doom). I'm too adjusted to the "left-stick-moves-forwards-backwards-and-side-to-side" and "right-stick-turns-and-aims" control style that resembles PC controls. GoldenEye's control stick and C buttons are too tough to get used to again. And even if I could get adjusted to GE's controls again, it still doesn't play good like a PC and moderns FPS. The control stick moves AND turns, and the C buttons strafe. Can't play it. I have the same issue with Metroid Prime, which is why I wont touch that either.
That's why Halo: Combat Evolved was one of the best FPS games. Before the first Halo game, no console FPS game controlled like a PC game. After Halo: CE, everyone else followed suit and now they all control the same. One control stick controlled forward, backward and side-to-side movement like the keyboard, and the other aimed and turned like a mouse. It set the standard for FPS games in terms of controls. And in other areas too, like the weapon system:
You can only carry two weapons. This is more realistic, as it's unusual for a character to carry an entire armory of weapons in his pocket. To counter it, it gave you the ability to trade weapons with nearby NPC allies or trade dropped weapons. Such a simple system was deeply strategic; you had to adapt to an upcoming obstacle by carrying a weapon with you that you can use to easily pass it, if you got rid of that weapon in favor of one that's weaker but has a larger ammo capacity, you had to backtrack and pick your weapon back up, or more on and make do with what you had.
The graphics were impressive too, even by today's standards. The environment on Alpha Halo was epic. The levels were well designed, the detail on things like grass and rocks were well done, and the lighting set all the right moods. If GoldenEye were done today, I don't think even today GoldenEye could pull that off. How many times can you walk around in a hallway in a silo or a base before it get's boring?
Halo was great.
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:38PM
Also, Halo was one of the first (if not the first) FPS to offer co-op AND player-controlled vehicles. I remember how exciting it was the first time I teamed up with someone on a Warthog.
But I would like to point out that Halo was *not* the first game to limit your weapon "inventory." Not even close. Actually, Bungie's previous game Oni limited the weapons you could carry to just one.
Halo also introduced the quick melee system, using a button rather than having to switch to a melee weapon like in GoldenEye or Half-Life. Speaking of which, why isn't that in your top five, eh Molyneaux?
Nathan-DTS [He is your father] @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:41PM
Halo didn't do the FPS genre good. They ruined it. It's because of Halo that all games in that genre now take no skill at all.
CJLopez @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:47PM
@Maxx the Slash: I can, and i find more precise the Cbuttons+stick combination than dual stick combination.
tried playing many fps on ps2 and ps3, hell, tried to play metroid prime on the cube it was just dam awefull to control (IMO), still having a hard time playing COD4 on my ps3 with my pals, i just cant concieve people do like to play it like that. But latelly, we found a 64 complete with 4 controls, expansion pack and rumble packs and perfect dark, man, we cant stop playing. last weekend we playing 18 hours straight!!!!! 6 pm to 6 am. We were supposed to attend a wedding that night. Man, the groom was pissed off because we didnt went (neither of us 4 were best men, but we are very close friend with the groom, xDDDDD)
We are trying to get a copy of goldeneye, shame ebay doesnt ship to mexico, xDDDDD
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:53PM
Halo was arguable the single most important game of last generation, closely followed by GTA3.
Dale @ Oct 23rd 2009 2:59PM
They subverted the tough guy image by ushering in the polygonal tits image that female game characters suddenly had to adhere to.
Every bit as condescending as the square jawed '80s action types.
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 23rd 2009 10:14PM
@Dale
...except for the original Lara, her figure wasn't her only appeal.
Reuben @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:09PM
Peter Molyneux needs to shut up for a little while.
RiccochetJ @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:21PM
Ya, I know. Tell those reporters to stop asking him questions and inviting him to seminars.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:45PM
Peter Molyneux is fucking brilliant. You shut your fucking mouth and respect the man who brought us Populous.
Reuben @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:58PM
I'm sorry, I didn't realize that the announced Fable marketplace and Natal support was suddenly a reason to rejoice.
Shagittarius @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:16PM
and he hasn't given us a finished game since Populous.
Peter Molyneux [Planeteer | Power of Inspiration, Ingenuity & General Bullshitery] @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:17PM
Thank you for your support J and Cap'n P.
I'm sorry Reuben if my innovations are too mind blowing for you to handle. I'll make sure you get some stimulation on your level for Christmas this year. (Tinker Toys!)
RiccochetJ @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:30PM
Peter,
I noticed that you didn't use the words 'absolutely fantastic' anywhere in that post...
IMPOSTER! GET HIM!
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:37PM
Are you joking Shag?
Magic Carpet
Dungeon Keeper
Black & White
Peter Molyneux [Planeteer | Power of Inspiration, Ingenuity & General Bullshitery] @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:46PM
J, as I've said before, I'm an innovator of all things, which includes the English language. I move onto new phrases constantly. How about this for a new catchphrase "wonderfully sublime"?
bongoes Sector 2814 @ Oct 23rd 2009 3:19PM
"wonderfully sublime"? I think I might start using that.
Herlock @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:20PM
Goldeneye, Timesplitters and Turok was good on console before Halo, otherwise no Sony games...thats funny, poor guy.
He talk for nothing like always!
Kid Chemical @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:27PM
I'm sorry, but did you just try to compare Halo's impact on the FPS market to that of Turok or the original TimeSplitters?
CtrlBurn @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:33PM
Good call on Dune 2. That game was amazing, and way ahead of its time. If it weren't for the archaic controls, I'd still play that game from time to time.
Stevetrop @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:45PM
Seriously Dune 2 was a gem that shinned so brightly. I played it back in 1994 and it blew my mind it was more or less my introduction to RTS games.
Dahk @ Oct 24th 2009 12:26AM
I still play it from time to time =P. Sure you can't group select, but what the hell... SO NOSTALGIC.
And genius for that time... Gotta love those Fremen.
Street Justice @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:48PM
This guy should be an advert for birth control.
Street Justice @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:55PM
I meant, judging by the photo sorry, that sounded a bit harsh - it's a terrible photo.
Heston @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:49PM
Ghost Crawler promised me a pony.
Peter Molyneux promised the greatest rpg of all time. Twice.
Peter Molyneux [Planeteer | Power of Inspiration, Ingenuity & General Bullshitery] @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:13PM
Okay, what if I give you the best RPG ever in the form of a Horse RPG? You level your pony up until it becomes a stallion. You switch out jockeys like they are weapons and your saddle and horseshoes would be your armor.
Wow. This is a brilliant idea. Now I just need to work Natal in there...
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:40PM
...isn't that Fable 3?
Herlock @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:53PM
i dont talk about market but just good FPS on console that it.
Dr. Bradwart @ Oct 23rd 2009 12:58PM
Overall, not a bad list. Maybe Peter isn't a lost cause after all.
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:22PM
Never mind the Molyneux, here's the Sex Pistols!
Mr Khan @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:30PM
A pretty good list. Pretty much all modern free-roaming 3D games have to give credit to Mario 64, and Halo's standards have come so far as to make previous standards seem strange and outlandish (you mean, your health doesn't regenerate? Preposterous!). Tomb Raider is a little iffy, i'll say.
LordPoncho @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:38PM
Halo doesn't deserve the credit it's given.
Many console fpses were doing what Halo "innovated" in doing. Timesplitters came long before Halo, and Timesplitters has always been a classic.
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:41PM
Yea, but Halo made it shiny.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:49PM
Oh yeah, Timesplitters came out looooong before Halo did....like a fucking year you idiot. Halo set the bar for FPS' on consoles. Deal with it.
Discotheque @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:49PM
Actually I was expecting a list with Black and White and Fable thrown in there somehow.
Good list, they all have had their innovations.
And as much as Molyneux gets the hate I think Kojima deserves it way more.
Discotheque @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:50PM
Beats Kojima who hasn't given us a finished story since...ever?
y3n0 @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:55PM
I don't understand all the discussion regarding revolutionary FPS games without mentioning Doom as a candidate? That started it all!
Dune 2 was indeed a good call. It was ahead of its time. Weren't there mods available for it that offered more challenge? or was I thinking C&C?
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 23rd 2009 2:09PM
Actually, Wolfenstein started it (to my knowledge at least). But yeah, Doom was a much better game.
And in term of free aiming, jumping, jetpacks and such, Duke Nukem 3D did a lot of new stuff when it came out.
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 23rd 2009 10:20PM
That's correct, Wolfenstein did precede Doom, but they were made by the same people so it's not a big deal. These games, Duke Nukem 3D, and the oft-forgotten Descent (!) made huge impacts on how 3D games are made today. Descent I believe was one of the first games to ever let the player move freely within 3D space.
Doom and Wolfenstein are actually tricks, the maps are completely 2D, (notice there are never stacked rooms), but the way the game is rendered makes it look 3D.
MRLN (The Comment God) @ Oct 23rd 2009 3:22PM
Wait... implying Mario is a tough-guy?
I'd replace Tomb Raider with Metroid any day, it practically invented free-roaming connected levels.